FISHERS — Facing a second straight Class 4A team that is receiving votes in the latest ICGSA poll, the New Palestine softball team rolled to another win Thursday.
One night after topping Franklin Central, 8-3, the Dragons traveled to Fishers to take on Hamilton Southeastern, emerging with a five-inning, run-rule win against the hosts, 12-2.
"It was a great game. I thought we did a nice job of making adjustments, then started hitting all the way through the order," New Palestine coach Ed Marcum said. "HSE is a great program every year, so it was certainly a great win going into prom weekend."
Tatum Biddle started things off with a leadoff double in the first inning, and Emily O’Connor drove Biddle in for a quick 1-0 lead. O’Connor homered in the third, pushing the lead to 2-0, before the Royals started to threaten in the bottom of the fourth.
Hamilton Southeastern loaded the bases in the fourth inning with no outs, only for New Palestine pitcher Sam Booe to strike out the next three batters. New Palestine rode that momentum, as Michaela Jones hit two home runs in the fifth inning, part of a 10-run outburst that ended the game early for the Dragons.
Jones drove in five RBIs for the Dragons, while O’Connor (three hits) and Jaylin Calvert each had two. Booe pitched four innings for the Dragons, allowing four hits and no runs, and Kaylea Bullock pitched one inning, allowing one hit and two earned runs.
The Class 3A No. 1 Dragons have the weekend off before a big home contest against No. 3 Yorktown on Tuesday.
